Comments on: Almost Niggardly http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/ Remember, I do this to entertain me... not you. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:05:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: SayUncle » Pesky language http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/comment-page-1/#comment-113727 SayUncle » Pesky language Tue, 15 Aug 2006 20:00:04 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/#comment-113727 [...] In the beginning, some DC politico got into trouble for using the word niggardly. Turns out, some ignorant twits just needed to buy a damn dictionary as it’s merely a synonym for stingy. Then, there was the time where some school official used the term yard-apes, and everyone called her a racist. Yard-ape, they said, was a derogatory term for black people. Well, it’s also a derogatory term used for children. Then I recall the time when someone asked if the phrase That’s Mighty White of You is racist. turns out, one definition of white is Honourable; square-dealing. [...] [...] In the beginning, some DC politico got into trouble for using the word niggardly. Turns out, some ignorant twits just needed to buy a damn dictionary as it’s merely a synonym for stingy. Then, there was the time where some school official used the term yard-apes, and everyone called her a racist. Yard-ape, they said, was a derogatory term for black people. Well, it’s also a derogatory term used for children. Then I recall the time when someone asked if the phrase That’s Mighty White of You is racist. turns out, one definition of white is Honourable; square-dealing. [...]

]]> By: tgirsch http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/comment-page-1/#comment-85778 tgirsch Thu, 01 Jun 2006 03:37:26 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/#comment-85778 <b>Uncle:</b> No, that's not the site I was thinking of. This site was run by linguistics experts and was <i>very</i> detailed. Not just a short blurb about each expression, but often a full page of history, references, etc. That's why I wish I could remember where I found it. <b>trainer:</b> I've always understood "cracker" to be a racist term used primarily <i>by</i> blacks <i>about</i> whites. Hence Chappelle: "We traveled all the way back in time to call you a cracker!" Uncle:

No, that’s not the site I was thinking of. This site was run by linguistics experts and was very detailed. Not just a short blurb about each expression, but often a full page of history, references, etc. That’s why I wish I could remember where I found it.

trainer:

I’ve always understood “cracker” to be a racist term used primarily by blacks about whites. Hence Chappelle: “We traveled all the way back in time to call you a cracker!”

]]> By: t3rrible http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/comment-page-1/#comment-85773 t3rrible Thu, 01 Jun 2006 02:14:45 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/#comment-85773 what were harold ford jr and michael jordan's nicknames in high school? what were harold ford jr and michael jordan’s nicknames in high school?

]]> By: trainer http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/comment-page-1/#comment-85754 trainer Wed, 31 May 2006 23:51:10 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/#comment-85754 The meanings of words change. My family farmed on both sides of the Ohio River during the Civil War...some were for the North and some for the South. The northern branch of the family called the southern branch 'crackers', originating from the hard-tack that the confederate army used as a diet staple. The northern half were 'blue bellies'. I was informed recently by a black guy at work that the term was racist...he felt it referred to poor southern blacks. I always thought it was my Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins. Live and learn....or not! Aunt Fern and Uncle Beau will always be crackers to me. The meanings of words change.

My family farmed on both sides of the Ohio River during the Civil War…some were for the North and some for the South. The northern branch of the family called the southern branch ‘crackers’, originating from the hard-tack that the confederate army used as a diet staple. The northern half were ‘blue bellies’.

I was informed recently by a black guy at work that the term was racist…he felt it referred to poor southern blacks.

I always thought it was my Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins. Live and learn….or not! Aunt Fern and Uncle Beau will always be crackers to me.

]]> By: Fun Bob http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/comment-page-1/#comment-85665 Fun Bob Wed, 31 May 2006 21:45:33 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/#comment-85665 countertop: That's one of my all time favorite SNL skits as well. Here's the script: http://snltranscripts.jt.org/84/84iwhitelikeeddie.phtml countertop:

That’s one of my all time favorite SNL skits as well. Here’s the script:

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/84/84iwhitelikeeddie.phtml

]]> By: SayUncle http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/comment-page-1/#comment-85505 SayUncle Wed, 31 May 2006 19:23:51 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/#comment-85505 Tom, if you follow the yard ape link above, there is a link to that list. But, for time's sake, <a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/list-of-ethnic-slurs" rel="nofollow">here</a> you go. Tom, if you follow the yard ape link above, there is a link to that list. But, for time’s sake,
here you go.

]]> By: tgirsch http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/comment-page-1/#comment-85504 tgirsch Wed, 31 May 2006 19:20:55 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/#comment-85504 Damned if I can find it now, but a couple of years ago I stumbled across a site that had detailed research on the origins of various phrases, expressions, and colloquialisms, and how they were often mistaken for being racist when in fact their origins were benign. In the case of "mighty white of you," however, they concluded that unlike most such expressions they encountered, the origins and common usages were <i>decidedly</i> racist. Wish I could find that site, it was a good one. Damned if I can find it now, but a couple of years ago I stumbled across a site that had detailed research on the origins of various phrases, expressions, and colloquialisms, and how they were often mistaken for being racist when in fact their origins were benign. In the case of “mighty white of you,” however, they concluded that unlike most such expressions they encountered, the origins and common usages were decidedly racist.

Wish I could find that site, it was a good one.

]]> By: GunGeek http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/comment-page-1/#comment-85496 GunGeek Wed, 31 May 2006 16:24:22 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/#comment-85496 This is probably not common knowledge, but as for stereotypes of white people... I had some black friends in high school explain to me that black people don't smell like a wet dog when it rains like us white people do. I tried a couple of times to sniff some rained-on black people to test his claim, but it didn't go over so well. No, not so well at all. It didn't seem to matter if I was sniffing on a guy or a girl, either. However, I know that we do smell funny when we get wet, so at least that part of it is correct. I can't vouch for the rest. This is probably not common knowledge, but as for stereotypes of white people…

I had some black friends in high school explain to me that black people don’t smell like a wet dog when it rains like us white people do. I tried a couple of times to sniff some rained-on black people to test his claim, but it didn’t go over so well. No, not so well at all. It didn’t seem to matter if I was sniffing on a guy or a girl, either.

However, I know that we do smell funny when we get wet, so at least that part of it is correct. I can’t vouch for the rest.

]]> By: Kleinheider http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/comment-page-1/#comment-85493 Kleinheider Wed, 31 May 2006 15:23:45 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/#comment-85493 <i>What’s white and 12 inches long? Nothing.</i> Speak for yourself there, Chief :) What’s white and 12 inches long?

Nothing.

Speak for yourself there, Chief :)

]]> By: beerslurpy http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/comment-page-1/#comment-85488 beerslurpy Wed, 31 May 2006 14:38:04 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/#comment-85488 Except there is an enormous functional distinction between gay and straight sex. IMO marriage is more spelling out the obligations for future parents than about some vague moral principle. Then again, none of the old restrictions once found in marriage (like against divorce) still exist and we have made a such huge mess of straight marriage , that allowing gays equal footing would not really tarnish it much further. Except there is an enormous functional distinction between gay and straight sex. IMO marriage is more spelling out the obligations for future parents than about some vague moral principle.

Then again, none of the old restrictions once found in marriage (like against divorce) still exist and we have made a such huge mess of straight marriage , that allowing gays equal footing would not really tarnish it much further.

]]> By: #9 http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/comment-page-1/#comment-85486 #9 Wed, 31 May 2006 13:50:28 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/#comment-85486 On another Knoxville blog a writer for the NY Times writes that if you oppose gay marriage you are a BIGOT. I did not know that. Some quotes from said writer: <i>and yeah, dean's stupid pandering is apparently the kind of thing the guy in that article was hoping to see from the dems. also, i'm sorry, but being against gay marriage is bigotry. it just is. opposing gay marriage is bigotry. just like opposing interracial marriage is racism.</i> Is it bigoted or racist to say that some people are hippie dipsticks? On another Knoxville blog a writer for the NY Times writes that if you oppose gay marriage you are a BIGOT.

I did not know that.

Some quotes from said writer:

and yeah, dean’s stupid pandering is apparently the kind of thing the guy in that article was hoping to see from the dems. also, i’m sorry, but being against gay marriage is bigotry. it just is.

opposing gay marriage is bigotry. just like opposing interracial marriage is racism.

Is it bigoted or racist to say that some people are hippie dipsticks?

]]> By: Rustmeister http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/comment-page-1/#comment-85485 Rustmeister Wed, 31 May 2006 13:46:49 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/#comment-85485 The term "mighty white of you" was first used (as far as I know) by the Lone Ranger. He said that to Tonto once, after Tonto did some good deed. I remember seeing it on TV. Personally, I've always considered the phrase racist, but I've seen the sarcastic aspect of it too. Maybe it's a context thing? The term “mighty white of you” was first used (as far as I know) by the Lone Ranger.

He said that to Tonto once, after Tonto did some good deed. I remember seeing it on TV.

Personally, I’ve always considered the phrase racist, but I’ve seen the sarcastic aspect of it too. Maybe it’s a context thing?

]]> By: countertop http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/comment-page-1/#comment-85483 countertop Wed, 31 May 2006 13:36:40 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/#comment-85483 I also recommend Martin Mull's History of White People in America. I also recommend Martin Mull’s History of White People in America.

]]> By: countertop http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/comment-page-1/#comment-85482 countertop Wed, 31 May 2006 13:36:05 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/#comment-85482 I always thought the SNL skit where Eddie Murphy put on white face and went about town for a day as a white guy was one of the funniest things that program ever did. Heck, the ONLY funny thing Whoopie Goldberg ever did was put a floor mop on top of her head and pretend she was a pretty dumb blonde haired white girl. I always thought the SNL skit where Eddie Murphy put on white face and went about town for a day as a white guy was one of the funniest things that program ever did. Heck, the ONLY funny thing Whoopie Goldberg ever did was put a floor mop on top of her head and pretend she was a pretty dumb blonde haired white girl.

]]> By: AughtSix http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/comment-page-1/#comment-85479 AughtSix Wed, 31 May 2006 13:12:33 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/#comment-85479 My size 15 foot, but only if you chop off a few toes. My size 15 foot, but only if you chop off a few toes.

]]> By: Xrlq http://www.saysuncle.com/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/comment-page-1/#comment-85478 Xrlq Wed, 31 May 2006 13:11:44 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2006/05/31/almost_niggardly/#comment-85478 I've always taken the phrase "how white of you" as sarcastic, but implicitly racist if it were uttered sincerely, which it (almost?) never is. I’ve always taken the phrase “how white of you” as sarcastic, but implicitly racist if it were uttered sincerely, which it (almost?) never is.

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